Chapter 2 – Overcoming Obstacles
Overcoming Your Fears
Gideon pleaded with God to show him signs that God would deliver the
Midianites to Israel. The signs Gideon demanded on the two occasions were
fulfilled by God; those signs gave Gideon a strong conviction that God was
with him.
A greater demonstration of Gideon’s unwavering faith in God was when
through a series of tests God asked him to conduct on his army, for the
size strength of his army be whittled down, initially to 10,000 from 32,000,
and finally to 300. To go to war with 300 soldiers against a menacing
army of the Midianites, counting soldiers in hundreds of thousands, could only
be down to faith in God; his faith in God helped overcome his fears.
Chapter 3-When Dreams and Heroes Die
The story of Joseph is a demonstration that dreams come to a terminal end
before realization only when the dreamer gives up on himself. Despite the
daunting challenges and trials, Joseph faced he responded with equanimity; his
faith in God was unwavering and he kept his good character as well. God
rewarded Joseph’s faith with his elevation as the viceroy in Egypt.
Another lesson to learn from the story of Joseph, some of our trials and
tribulations are ordained by God, mostly in preparation for overcoming
challenges ahead. He understood this thus he didn’t display any animosity
towards his brothers when they met up.
Chapter 9 - Reaching Out to Others-
Boaz demonstrated the redemption of Christ for our souls through the warmth,
accommodation, and compassion extended to Ruth and Naomi, two widows in
dire straits. Boaz offered them protection from the young men around, an
abundance of food, and comfort; Boaz made sure Ruth took more than enough
of the harvests home to Naomi. And all these Boaz did without any ulterior
motive.
More importantly, Boaz knew Ruth was a gentile, though a converted one,
he went out of his way to repay her kindness and loyalty to Naomi.
Despite the constraints of sharing his estate between two heirs, a consequence
of marriage to Ruth, Boaz still went ahead, thus affirming God’s provisions
for Naomi and Ruth.
Chapter 12-Standing Up for What You Believe In:
Daniel demonstrated his abiding faith in God, the premise being Daniel’s
recognition of God’s sovereignty over earthly kings. A young Daniel used
wisdom to demonstrate his belief when together with his three friends refused
to eat the unclean foods from the king’s table which would have compromised
his faith.
The growth and development of the spiritual determination of Daniel was best
demonstrated in old age. The courage displayed to go against the king’s edict
prohibiting the worship of God, but instead, the idol made by the king,
showed Daniel’s faith in God to deliver him. A lily-livered person could have
hidden under the frailties of old age as an excuse to obey the king.
Chapter 2: Overcoming Obstacles
“When we are in a right relationship with God, we enjoy being in God’s
house. But when we are not in a right relationship with God, we do not
want to be in the house of God.” (Hindson, 2003) This quote resonated with
me because we all do get very busy sometimes but is important to show
our love and devotion to God by going to church. Church is not only about
worshipping God and being in His house, it is about the sense of community
and fellowship that comes along with going to church as well. We must
always make sure that God is the #1 priority in our lives, and we can do
that by going to church at least once a week. yy
Chapter 6: No More Excuses
“These cycles are true in our own lives. When we are doing what God
wants us to do, everything goes well. That doesn’t mean there aren’t problems
and difficulties. It simply means the hand of God’s blessing is real.”
(Hindson, 2003) As humans, it is all too often that we get discouraged when
we face problems and difficulties in our lives. But the reason that the trials
and tribulations do not last forever is because of God. He gives us the
strength to pull ourselves out of bad situations and with prayer and Bible
study, there is an answer for every problem someone could be facing in
their lives. yy
Chapter 9: Reaching Out to Others
“Jesus, the Savior, came forth from Bethlehem to find us slaving over the
scraps in the field of life. And He loved us in spite of our pitiful situation.
He set his heart on us and promised, “I will marry you and redeem you.”
It is the pledge of the ultimate Redeemer to you and me personally.”
(Hindson, 2003) Similarly to the story of Boaz and Ruth, Jesus saves us
from any and all sin and loves us even though we all have our downfalls
as humans. The love that God has for us to send his one and only son
to die a painful death for the redemption of his children is the purest form
of selflessness and love to ever exist.
Chapter 10: Realizing Your Goals
“Sometimes we trust everything but God to get the job done. Not David.
He went out to face Goliath armed with faith in God. He dared to go
where no one else would go. And he went with very little in his hands.”
(Hindson, 2003) Sometimes, the faith in God is all we need to succeed. No
matter how much money is in our bank account, where we come from, or
what other privileges we do or do not have, having the armor of God is
all we need. Just as David went up against Goliath with nothing but a
slingshot but still prevailed with God’s protection and love, we can do the
same with any obstacle that comes our way.
Realizing your Goals:
To realizing our goals, we will have to do what the word of God says.
The truth is in the word of God, when you are looking forward to achieving
your goal depends on the word of God. The Benefit of what following the
word of God is that it makes it. Possible to achieve our goals faster. It
may not be easy, but the path to fulfilling or realizing our goals is in our
obedience to the word of God. Sometimes what we planned for may not
happen early enough to meet or expectations. The Bible says, “We should
keep our eyes on the higher calling” (Phil 3:14), that we may see things
through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. “The author and the finisher of our
faith” (Heb 12:2).
2. Reaching out to others
It may sound easy but from my experience, reaching out to others may
involve you swallowing your pride and asking for help. While some people
may be difficult to reach, some may readily accept to be reached. Whatever
it is we are reaching out for must be the focus and not the person. Many
times, we misunderstand the reason why we must reach out and seek for
help or even helping others. I would like to mention here that, one should
not blame those that are skeptical, it could be from their bad experience
from the past. However, we must not use that as a measure of the present
experience. As we may know, the experience of the disciples is not the
same, likewise our experience will not be the same. That is why we should
understand the uniqueness of each one in every situation.
3. Standing up for what you believe
Whatever one believes should be held with a sense of conviction. If you
cannot stand up for what you believe, then no one will stand up for it. It
is therefore a good thing to first see the importance of what we believe,
understand it and ensure we have what it takes to carry on in the direction
of what we believe. Some people get frustrated along the way when face
with challenges that questions what they believe. Usually when this happens,
it is not the challenges but the reason why the believe should be questioned.
The audacity to stand up for what one believes should come from within
with careful understanding the facts involved and careful thought on the subject
matter.
4. Facing your weaknesses
No one that is alive that does not have a weakness. However, to face one’s
weaknesses depends on the ability to accept the area of the weakness and
start working to improve on it. When one ignores his or her weakness
shameful occurrence is inevitable. The danger of not accepting this simple fact
makes it very difficult to receive help or to be helped. When an individual
own up to his or her weaknesses, even friends and enemies alike may
determine to help when the need arises. Paul was saying “that is why, for
Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions,
in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. (2Corinthians 12:10).
Admonishing us to be mindful of this thing as Christians.
Courageous faith is therefore what gives a Christian the power to stand when
all other hopes are gone to the thin air. The evidence of things not seen
but been fully persuaded that God can not lie. And therefore, keep trusting
until the battle is finally won.
Chapter 4 - Becoming a Leader
Everyday we strive to be the best we can possibly whether that's to get
things done quicker or to improve on things in our life. As I read this
chapter, the main point that sticks out to me is learning from your mistakes
and making whatever you desire to do turn real. "Every time I read the
story of Moses, I am reminded that it really doesn’t matter what your
background is. You can either benefit from it, or you can rise above it."
(Hindson, 64) I do my very best to create a positive path for my life, but
without making mistakes and learning from them I wouldn't be the person I
am today.
Chapter 9 - Reaching Out to Others
This chapter really stood out to me because of how todays world is and
how we interact with many different people and things around communities.
As a full-time working student, sometimes I struggle to reach out to others.
Personally, I believe that reaching out to others is a good way to keep a
positive atmosphere in our lives today because everyday we may need a time
to celebrate and also we may need a time for cheering up. Jesus wants us
to, "love thy neighbor as he loves us" and I believe reaching out to people
to show we care about how they feel is important.
Chapter 10 - Realizing your Goals
I set goals for myself because it pushes me to focus on reaching them.
Goals can be small and easy or large and exaggerated but that doesn't mean
we shouldn't try to reach them and become the best version of ourselves as
we can be. God and I are the only things who can chase and achieve my
goals. God puts faith in us for us to believe in ourselves. "David didn’t
ask God to put more in his hands before answering the challenge. Most of
us never get going for God because we want Him to equip us first."
(Hindson, 157) This quote from the reading sums up this chapter, we achieve
our goals when we work first then everything else falls into place.
Chapter 12 - Standing Up for What You Believe
This chapter may be my favorite chapter from the reading. Standing up for
what you believe in is something I value because in today’s world we
encounter many different beliefs and differences. "God helped them to pass
the examination because they stood up for their beliefs and convictions."
(Hindson, 184) I have been involved in many different activities and
conversations where I have been questioned about my certain beliefs. As a
believer, Jesus has blessed with very piece of evidence and word to stand
strong on his faith, just as he stands strong on us. Different opinions
shouldn’t influence what we believe in, we should listen to others as they
may be giving us valuable information.
1. Chapter 2 - Overcoming Obstacles – Raising children is a rewarding
experience despite never being easy. When it comes to parenting,
fathers of their households are to set positive examples for their
children, provide spiritual heritage, financial security, teach biblical
instruction, provide consistent discipline, give practical advice, and
share blessings for the future. Whether certain types of people
become leaders or are born leaders, there is no doubt that some
people show leadership qualities at a very young age. Regardless,
God calls men to be the leaders of their households, at the church
they go to, and in their communities. The husband is to always
love his wife, honor her, trust her, praise her, sanctify her, protect
her from harm, provide for her, teach her, etc.
2. Chapter 4 – Becoming a Leader – Everyone has sins they want to
repent, fears they want to overcome, mistakes they want to fix,
disappointments they want to make up for, and heartaches they want
to forget and leave behind. To put it simply, everyone fails and
makes mistakes in life, and that’s completely normal. When failure
comes our way, we need to remember that failing is part of being
human, we should never call ourselves failures just because we fail,
we shouldn’t call ourselves failures unless we stop trying, and we
should focus on our future instead of our past failures. In
conclusion, despite our limitations, we have the ability to learn from
our mistakes, and this is one of the key steps in becoming leaders.
3. Chapter 8 – Facing Your Weaknesses – Everyone has their own
habits that they want to move on from, and some of these habits
tend to be detrimental to their lives as Christians. While some
people want to overcome these habits, others remain in denial. Both
men and women struggle with pride, arrogance, materialism, anger,
jealousy, envy, greed, self-indulgence, and many other things having
to do with sin. There are such things as internal and external
weaknesses. Some examples of internal weaknesses include guilt, fear,
worry, and depression. However, just because everyone has their
weaknesses doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to correct them and better
ourselves. We have all fallen short, and even though we all face
these weaknesses and flaws, we can also persevere through them.
4. Chapter 10 – Realizing Your Goals – God uses stories told in the
Bible to get our attention. God transforms average people into
leaders, and the stories that tell about these people are incredibly
impactful to where we never forget them. For example, the story
of David and Goliath talks about David’s victory over Goliath, and
that he defeated him over seemingly impossible odds. Originally,
David planned on taking on the entire Philistine army, and since
Goliath was astonished by his level of courage, he stayed to fight.
David then ran towards Goliath, pulled out a stone from his bag,
and fired at Goliath’s head using a slingshot. These types of stories
inspire us to achieve our goals and remain determined while having
God’s Word in mind.
Chapter 2) Overcoming obstacles - The Bible portrays overcoming obstacles as
an integral part of human existence and spiritual growth. It highlights the
journey of individuals who faced immense challenges but found strength and
guidance from their faith in God. From Moses leading the Israelites out of
Egypt, to David defeating Goliath, to the perseverance of Job through
suffering, the Bible emphasizes the triumph of perseverance, courage, and trust
in divine providence. It teaches that obstacles can serve as opportunities for
personal transformation, deepening one's relationship with God, and developing
virtues such as patience, humility, and resilience. Ultimately, the Bible inspires
believers to face adversity with unwavering faith, knowing that God's power
and grace can enable them to conquer any obstacle.
Chapter 4) Becoming a Leader - The Bible presents the concept of becoming
a leader as a calling and a responsibility. It showcases various individuals
who were chosen by God to lead and guide His people. From Moses, who
led the Israelites out of Egypt, to Joshua, who succeeded him in leading the
nation into the promised land, to the disciples chosen by Jesus to spread His
message, the Bible emphasizes the qualities of servant leadership, humility, and
obedience to God's will. It highlights the importance of integrity, wisdom, and
the ability to inspire and guide others. The Bible encourages aspiring leaders
to seek God's guidance, rely on His strength, and prioritize the well-being
and welfare of those they lead, leading by example and serving with love
and compassion.
Chapter 8) Facing your weaknesses - The Bible acknowledges the reality of
human weaknesses and encourages individuals to confront and address them. It
emphasizes the need for humility and self-awareness, recognizing that everyone
falls short in some way. The Apostle Paul, in his writings, speaks of his
own weaknesses and emphasizes that God's power is made perfect in human
weakness. The Bible teaches that acknowledging and confessing weaknesses
opens the door for God's grace and transformative work in one's life. It
encourages individuals to rely on God's strength rather than their own, seeking
His guidance, and allowing Him to shape and mold them. By facing their
weaknesses with honesty and surrendering to God's transformative power,
believers can experience growth, redemption, and ultimately, find strength in
their weaknesses through the power of God's grace.
Chapter 10) Standing up for what you believe in - The Bible emphasizes
the importance of standing up for one's beliefs and convictions, even in the
face of opposition. It presents numerous examples of individuals who
demonstrated unwavering faith and courage in the pursuit of truth and
righteousness. From Daniel's refusal to worship false gods to the apostles' bold
proclamation of Jesus' resurrection, the Bible highlights the need for unwavering
commitment and obedience to God's commands. It encourages believers to be
steadfast, fearless, and willing to endure persecution for the sake of their
faith. The Bible teaches that standing up for what is right often requires
sacrifice, but it also promises God's faithfulness and rewards for those who
remain steadfast in their convictions.
Chapter 3: When Dreams and Heroes Die
yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy This chapter taught us about restoration within individual
families’ and God’s plan to keep his promises. We first learn about a man
named Bob who is currently feeling a donated by his ex and his children
after a divorce. We are then told about the story of Joseph being abandoned
by his brothers and later becoming the second hand man to Pharaoh. Even
though, Joseph had every right to hate his family, he chose to soft-hearted
and grieved for his family. This story is all part of God’s restoration of the
relationship with His people. At the end of the chapter, we learn that Bob
“later remarried and committed his life to full-time service.”
Chapter 6: No More Excuses
This chapter challenges readers to break free from the
excuses that hold them back from living a life of bold faith. The author
emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and
decisions, rather than blaming circumstances or others. Through personal
anecdotes, biblical examples, and practical advice, the chapter guides readers
on a journey towards a faith that is courageous and unyielding. It encourages
individuals to step out of their comfort zones, face their fears and trust in
God’s guidance. This chapter also highlights the power of perseverance and
the need to rely on God’s strength in times of adversity. Overall, “No More
Excuses” in Courageous Faith inspires readers to live a life of faith that is
characterized by bravery, determination and unwavering trust in God.
Chapter 8: Facing Your Weakness
This chapter explores the importance of acknowledging
and addressing our weakness in order to experience true growth and
transformation. The author emphasizes that weaknesses are not meant to hold
us back, but rather serve as opportunities for God’s strength to be made
perfect in us. Through personal stories, biblical stories and examples, and
practical insights, the chapter encourages readers to confront their weaknesses
head-on, rather than avoiding or denying them. It teaches that vulnerability
and humility are key in allowing God to work in and through our
weaknesses, ultimately leading to a deeper reliance on Him. The chapter also
provides guidance on how to overcome self-doubt and develop a mindset of
courage and faith in the face if weaknesses. Overall, “Facing You Weakness”
in Courageous Faith inspire readers to embrace their weaknesses as
opportunities for God’s power to be revealed in their lives.
Chapter 10: Realizing Your Goals
Realizing your goals requires courageous faith, as it
involves stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks. It is important
to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and believe in your
ability to make it happen. Cultivating a mindset of courage allows you to
overcome obstacles and persevere in the face of adversity. It is necessary to
confront fears and doubts head-on, acknowledging that failure is a possibility
but not allowing it to deter you. Courageous faith also involves truth und in
a higher power or a greater purpose, knowing that there is a plan for your
life. By combining determination, resilience, and a strong believe in yourself
and your goals, you can overcome challenges and realize your aspirations.
Chapter 4: Becoming a Leader
While some are naturally born leaders, many are developed
over time through mentorship, education, experience, and even failure. “Failure
is especially hard on leaders. We don’t want to fail. In fact, we fear failure
because we’ve seen what it does to people” (Cartwright & Hulshof, 2016, p.
61). A leader is going to fail over and over throughout life because they
lead others, make choices daily, and are responsible for helping guide the
lives of others whether that’s co-workers, friends, or family members. However,
what is important to remember as a leader is that it’s ok to fail. The best
thing a leader can do is make mistakes and learn from them.
Chapter 6: No More Excuses
yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy There are many things surrounding us in our lives that
we wish could and should change. However, many humans acknowledge what
needs to or should change but do nothing about it and make excuses as to
why they can’t be done. Although making excuses may be a common to
human nature, “God is still in the business of eliminating our excuses. An
excuse is nothing more than a lie packaged to look like an explanation”
(Cartwright & Hulshof, 2016, p. 96). If we are able to instill trust in the
Lord and eliminate excuses in our lives as to why we can’t do something,
we will prosper, grow, and improve the overall quality of our lives.
Chapter 8: Facing Your Weaknesses
Acknowledging and facing personal weaknesses is a
challenge for most humans. Because of the world we live in, there are
several temptations that may not seem detrimental to oneself. However, these
temptations turn into personal weaknesses. “Everyone faces temptation in one
form or another. For some, the struggle is internal: guilt, fear, worry, or
depression. For others, the struggle is external: sex, money, fame, and fortune”
(Cartwright & Hulshof, 2016, p. 122). For example, there are many great
athletes in the world. However, the greatest athletes never settle with where
they’re at. They constantly are focusing on how they can get better. As
humans, taking this approach in our personal lives should be a central focus.
Chapter 12: Standing Up for What You Believe In
In the Bible, there are several instances of prophets,
martyrs, and several others standing up for their faith, and even dying for
what they believed in. Today, most of the world’s population does not live
in a society where they have to do that. However, nowadays it can be
easier to cave into personal beliefs because of the many temptations,
distractions, and peer pressure that exists throughout society. One of my
favorite quotes from the reading made by Cal Thomas states; “if you don’t
stand up for something, you will fall for everything” (Cartwright & Hulshof,
2016, p. 191). If you stop standing up for some of your beliefs, it is likely
you won’t stand up for any of them.
Chapter Two: Overcoming Obstacles
yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy This chapter tells the story of Jacob and how he stole
his brother birthright and blessing. He fled to live with his uncle and while
there fell in love with Rachel. He worked seven years then at the wedding,
she was switch out for her sister. Jacob then married both sisters and had
to work an additional seven years. Jacob then had to overcome going back
home. Jacob wrestled an angel to receive a blessing so his brother would
not kill him upon his return. He received his blessing, and his name was
changed to Israel. Esau met his brother with a hug. Jacob tried to settle
outside of Shesham. He then needed to flee again and settled in Bethel.
Chapter Four: Becoming a Leader
yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy yy In this chapter it tells the story of Moses. He had to
overcome his past where he had accidently killed an Egyptian, which was
punishable by death. He fled and it seemed like God had turned away.
Instead, God chose to use Moses and even after 40 years in obscurity he
was called by God to free the Hebrews from slavery and lead them. Moses
had a speech impediment and seemed unfit to be a leader and yet he
performed great miracles and lead his people into the wilderness in hopes of
God’s promise of entering the promised land.
Chapter Six: No More Excuses
yy yy God can choose the most unlikely of people to complete
his will. Gideon was such a person, a coward, and yet was chosen by God
to defeat the Midianites. Gideon went from an oaf from the worst pedigree
to a leader and war hero. All by God’s intervention in his life. He led
300 men against an army 130,000 and was victorious. Even with odds against
him and him being the most unlikely individual to lead such an endeavor,
his use by God showed God’s strength and how He delivered the Israelites
from the Midianites.
Chapter Twelve: Standing Up for What You Believe
This chapter tells the story of Daniel. Judah had been
conquered by Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar gathered some of the young men from
royal and noble background. Daniel along with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
had their names changed and were educated to be Babylonian. They stayed
faithful to God and refused the meats offered to them and only ate veggies.
After completing this they were the best of all the others. Nebuchadnezzar
raised a gold statue of himself and wanted them to worship it. They refused
even under threat of death. They were thrown into a fiery furnace for their
trouble where God delivered them unharmed.
Chapter 2: Overcoming Obstacles
Becoming a leader has less to do with being physically adept and more to
do with having grit and determination. According to our textbook, "There has
always been an argument over whether leaders are born leaders or whether
they become leaders...But leaders are also made and developed by their
response to natural circumstances" (Hindson, Page 36). God has given us the
will and power to overcome each of our obstacles whether they be physical,
mental, or spiritual. We do not have to be the strongest person in the room
to lead powerfully and effectively. But we also must not be discouraged when
we compare ourselves to other great leaders.
Chapter 6: No More Excuses
An excuse is often followed up by an explanation as to why we cannot do
something, be somewhere, or act a certain way. But thankfully our God forces
us into action, puts us in spots where we can grow, and guide us in our
uncertainties. According to our textbook, "God is in the business of eliminating
excuses" (Hindson, Page 95). People won't follow someone who has an excuse
for everything, a confusing path, or someone who is defeated. The best thing
we can do is jump into the metaphorical deep end and learn that way.
Excuses leave, we lead.
Chapter 10: Realizing Your Goals
Every day we face new challenges that come with the new day. But the
one thing that stays the same is that we have the same goals: lead by
example, work hard, and be available. God equips us with the ability to do
anything and everything that we need to be successful at achieving our own
goals but doubts and fear fill our minds when we enter the unknown. But
according to our textbook, "God will never put more in your hand until you
are willing to use what is already there. If you won't use what you have,
why would He trust you with more?" (Hindson, Page 157).
Chapter 12: Standing Up for What You Believe
The expression "Bend but don't break" comes into mind when it comes to
standing up for your beliefs. They grow deep into our core, just as God
intended. We have as our textbook mentions: "Everything to gain from
compromising. Spiritually speaking, they had everything to lose: their character,
their integrity, and their commitment" (Hindson, Page 186). Our beliefs are in
the stronghold of our minds and if we loosen that stronghold even a little
bit, that gives way to fear, doubt, and ultimately, sin. God has bestowed
upon us the gift to lean on Him when all the walls seem to be closing
in and we need something to remind us of our beliefs.
Chapter 2: Overcoming Obstacles:
Life itself isn’t about how you achieve every goal that’s encounter, it’s about
the process on to achieve that goal, the hurdles on the process. Despite on
how difficult it is achieving anything in life what matter the most is
overcoming them struggles. The thought process and planning of that goal is
what make the difference. As it stated “ But His ideal plan is to work
through both parents, with the man taking the spiritual leadership. And with
the privilege of leadership comes the responsibility of leadership.” You have
to be willing to be that leaders and almost setting the example.
Ed Hindson, Courageous Faith: Life Lessons from Old Testament HeroesLinks
to an external site. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 2011), 34.
Chapter 4: Becoming a leader:
Becoming that leader is sometimes effort that’s need to acquire being
uncomfortable; uncomfortable being willingly to follow those before leading
those. Sometimes becoming a leader can be overwhelming because it involves
risk, demands and knowledge. We have to accept failure and with failure
comes with several attempts. Take in counter what God did to Moses: turned
him to that leaders that God wanted him to be. God will always guide you
through your calling, but with putting the effort of what is it that you want
to accomplish.
Chapter 8: Facing your weakness:
Facing your weakness comes with being honest with yourself and others. From
time to time we put such a high reputation that we fail to see what are
our weakness. Being good at something tell much about character, but
acknowledging weakness defines who you are as a person. In the book of
courageous faith it stated lowering your guard. I stay firm on that only
because at one point I believe we all have that breaking point, that countless
failure attempt and that imperfection that bring out who we are. God wants
us to face weakness to help us strengthen them.
Chapter 12: Standing for what you believe:
Not everyone have to stand on what you believe, but within yourself you
always have to stay firm on what you believe. What are your values? Often
times there can be persuasive ways human being can make you believe on
what they believe to stand on one side , but it most come within yourself
to believe what’s right and what’s wrong. In this chapter it states how God
puts Daniel faith to test, this was to see how how firm did he stand on
what on passing that exam. But as always God was there to believer what
Daniel wanted to accomplish.
Chapter 4 – Becoming a Leader
Moses developed the qualities of a good leader. He was patient, humble, a
good listener and had faith in God. In the wilderness, the people complained
and turned-on him, yet he did not give up on them. Being a good leader
is a difficult and sometimes thankless job as shown by the author’s statement
“I really enjoy everything about the ministry except the people. They’re just
so hard to get along with” (Hindson p. 71). Despite insecurities, Moses trusted
God to provide him with what was needed to rescue the Israelites from
Egypt and lead them to the promise land. Once the Israelites stopped
complaining and followed their leader, who was following God, they were led
to the promised land.
Chapter 6 – No More Excuses
There are always excuses why we can’t do something that we are asked to
do. The book of Judges records six cycles of failure, repentance, and
restoration. These cycles are true in our own lives. When we are doing what
God wants us to do, everything goes well. That doesn’t mean there aren’t
problems and difficulties. It simply means the “hand of God’s blessing is
real” (Hindson p. 91-92). When God calls us to do something, He will
provide everything needed to complete His will so there is no need for
excuses. Scripture tells us that “God has not given us the spirit of fear: but
of power and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).
Chapter 10 – Realizing Your Goals
The story of David illustrated great leadership, courage, and faith in God.
David “showed every essential quality of leadership. He knew what to do
and how to do it, and he had the confidence to make it happen” (Hindson,
p. 156). David faced many obstacles, yet he kept his mind on the goal of
destroying Goliath, who had spoken against God. To accomplish our goals,
we must have a relationship with God to help us to overcome any obstacle
and reach the goal. We need to do what David did and step out on faith.
“He had a deep and personal faith in God. It was the kind of faith that
one could live by or die for.” (Hindson p.160)
Chapter 12 – Standing Up for What You Believe
There is an old saying that if you don’t stand for something you will fall
for anything. The story of Daniel and his three friends are good examples
of what can happen when you do not give in to pressure and stand up for
what you believe. Rather than eat food that was dedicated to idols and
worship a pagan god, the friends decided to honor their Jewish beliefs. Their
stance not only resulted in God saving them from the furnace but caused
the pagan king to be impressed by their courage and the power of God.
“Until you are willing to take such a stand, the power of God will never
be evident in your life.” (Hindson p. 187).
In Courageous Faith chapter 10, The story of David and Goliath is a striking
example of achieving goals against all difficulties. In this biblical story, David,
a youthful shepherd, faces up against the great warrior Goliath, equipped only
with a sling and a stone. Despite being outmatched physically, David's
persistent confidence in God's strength and wisdom allows him to win over
the powerful foe. This narrative shows us that we can overcome apparently
insurmountable problems with dedication, courage, and unwavering faith in our
skills. It motivates us to discover our abilities, use them wisely, and believe
in our ability to attain our goals, no matter how difficult they may look.
In the end David had the goal to prove the the philistines and the
unbelieving Israelites that greater if He who fights with him, the he who
fights with them. This was proven when the philistines were defeated and
God granted David more victories.
In Courageous Faith chapter 2 overcoming obstacles, the Bible's tale of Jacob
is a remarkable testimony to overcoming adversity. Throughout his life, Jacob
experienced several hurdles, including family rivalry, dishonesty, and personal
hardships. His path serves as a reminder that, in the face of adversity,
perseverance and dedication may lead to change and success. Jacob learnt the
value of humility, forgiveness, and dependence on God's guidance through his
experiences. He fought an angel, reflecting his inner conflicts, and emerged
with a new name, Israel, indicating his change. The narrative of Jacob teaches
us the importance of perseverance, self-reflection, and the notion that even in
the midst of hardship, we may discover strength inside ourselves and receive
divine support to overcome challenges and accomplish personal progress.
In Courageous Faith, Chapter 6, The story of Gideon in the Bible provides
a powerful example of overcoming fears. Gideon initially struggled with doubts
and insecurities, but when God called him to deliver Israel from their
oppressors, he embarked on a journey of personal transformation. To confirm
God's presence and guidance, Gideon asked for signs, which were graciously
granted. As he gained confidence, his fears began to dissipate. With a small
army of three hundred men, Gideon faced an overwhelming enemy force.
Through God's intervention, they achieved a miraculous victory. Gideon's story
illustrates that fear can be conquered through trust in God's promises and
stepping out in faith. It teaches us that even when we feel weak or ill-
equipped, God can use us in extraordinary ways. Gideon's experience
encourages us to confront our fears, rely on divine strength, and believe that
with God's help, we can overcome any obstacle that stands in our way.
In Courageous Faith, chapter 8, The Bible's narrative of Samson teaches an
important lesson about addressing one's limitations. Samson possessed amazing
physical strength but was plagued by personal weaknesses and temptations. His
love for Delilah, a lady who deceived him, was his undoing. Despite his
great strength, Samson was eventually caught and blinded by his adversaries.
In his greatest weakness, though, he acknowledged his need for God's power
and redemption. As his hair grew back, so did his spiritual resolve. In a
final brave deed, Samson prayed to God for strength and pulled down the
temple pillars, risking his own life to overcome his adversaries. Samson's
narrative tells us that even the strongest among us have flaws, and that
genuine strength may be discovered by admitting and giving them to God. It
instills in us humility, the repercussions of unbridled wants, and the
significance of seeking God's direction in order to overcome our particular
vulnerabilities.
1. Chapter 2: Overcoming the Obstacles
Oftentimes throughout our lives, we add many unnecessary struggles to our
lives and bring about obstacles that wouldn't be there had we simply trusted
in God and his timing. This has been something that has been an ongoing
issue with humanity since the
beginning of time. When we learn to put our full trust in God, He takes
care of us and helps us to overcome the various obstacles we face in our
lives. That's not to say that we won't have struggles in our lives, because
we will, but He will be there every step of the way to help us through
it.
2. Chapter 4: Becoming a Leader
Throughout our lives, failure is something we all must experience and go
through. We will not live a life full of perfection or without struggles.
Regardless of what our past or upbringing may look like, God uses our
experiences to prepare us for His calling in each of our lives. We all will
make mistakes throughout our lives and fall short of the glory of God. There
may also be times when we feel like God has forgotten about us or is not
with us. But even when He is silent, He is always there. He never leaves
us in our struggles. We have to learn to trust Him even when we feel like
we are drowning and can't seem to understand why we're stuck in the place
that we are.
3. Chapter 6: No More Excuses
This chapter, similar to the others, reminds us to trust in God. Instead of
making excuses and thinking of all the reasons why we are not good enough
or strong enough for whatever we are being called to, we must remember
that God is the one who called us to that specific place or situation and
we must trust that He has equipped us and prepared us to handle whatever
is thrown our way. We spend too much time in our lives making excuses
for why we shouldn't do things or why we can't do things. Instead of doing
this, we must trust in our God and His promises to us.
4. Chapter 12: Standing Up For What You Believe
We must get to a point in our lives where we are willing to stand up for
what we believe in. We must stand strong in our faith. Regardless of what
the world or society wants, we must not conform to the wants of this
world. That will not always be an easy choice to make. However, when we
stand up for what we believe in and keep our faith, God will continue to
be there for us time and time again. When we are willing to go the extra
mile and trust in God wholeheartedly because of our faith and belief in Him,
we will truly be able to start living our lives for Him and fulfill the calling
He has for us.
Faith is the key that unlocks the power of God in our lives. if you wanted
to look up John 3:16, first you would turn to the book of John. You
would then turn to the 3rd chapter You would then find the 16th verse. I
never know all this I guess its true you learn something knew everyday. So,
with everything rises and falls on leadership!” How many times have we
heard that statement? It has become the maxim that runs entire corporations
and their management decisions. Whatever is wrong with the organization is
usually a reflection of what is wrong with the leader on the corporate level
as well as on the personal level.
Module 1: chapter 4
Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present
yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses
and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 15 And
the Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud
stood over the entrance of the tent. 16 And the Lord said to Moses,
“Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will
rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are
entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made
with them. 17 Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day,
and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be
devoured.
Module 4: yy chapter 12
Many times, students of God’s Word get comfortable with one particular
translation of Scripture. This translation becomes the sole version of the Bible
that they will ever read. When they replace their current Bible, they simply
select a new copy of the same translation. In doing so, students never
become comfortable with any other translation. Thus they miss the benefit of
hearing the different words, the distinctive cadence, and the altered structure
that another translation could provide. Using various translations of the
Scripture for Bible study allows a person to make observations across these
translations. For example, one translation might use the word “teach,” while
another may use the word “instruct” or “command.” Each of these words
conveys a different aspect of meaning. Therefore, a good student of God’s
Word would want to explore which of these words best communicates the
meaning in this context.
Module 7: chapter 10
So, they are really trying to remind us that specific places are important in
our decisions. But isn't all bibles different from the next because everybody
dont believe in the same god , or bible , The same is true in the Bible.
There are many stories in the Bible that God uses to get our attention.
They act as living illustrations of how He transforms ordinary people into
great leaders of faith and victory. Some of these stories have such a
tremendous impact on us that we never forget them. One such story is that
of David’s victory over Goliath. It is a story of faith and victory over
incredible odds.
King Saul of Israel had assembled on the eastern hillside, while the Philistines
lined up their army to the west. This was no ordinary Old Testament battle.
This was a battle for the very existence of the nation of Israel. They had
struggled against the Philistines for two hundred years. A loss now would
cost them everything.
